smith



(No Model.)

I E. H. SMITH.

SAFETY HOOK FOR LIFE LINES.

No. 452,199. Patented May12,-1-891.

//v VENTOH. Edward Hfmzlk fifliw/lxg A TTOHNE rs WITNESSES. 77/ I oh 1!UNITED STATES PATENT EricE.

EDIVARD II. SMITI-I, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY-HOOK FOR LIFE-LINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,199, dated May 12,1891.

Application filed anuary 15, 1891. Serial No. 377,875. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

l 3e it known that I, EDWARD I-I. SMITH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county andState of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inSafety-Hooks for Life-Lines, of which the following is a specification.This invention relates'to an improvement in safety-hooks for life-lines;and the inventron consists in the details of construction set forth inthefollowing specification and claims, and illustrated in the annexeddrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a safety-hook applied touse. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the hook. Fig. 3 shows the hook open.Fig. 4 is a section along x as, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a modification.

The safety-hook is shown composed of a primary eye A and a jointed eyeor an eye composed of sections 13 O, jointed to one another at D. A linkor eye E connects the eye A with the jointed eye. The jointed eye isheld closed by a suitable lock consisting of a brace F. Said brace issupported by two arms G G, on one of which arms said brace swings or towhich it is connected by a pivot H. The free end of the brace F isconnected to the other arm G by a spring catch or bolt 1, passingthrough suitable eyes in said arm G and in the brace F. The arms G aresecured to or supported by a pivot K on the joint eye-section B.

\Vhen the catch I is withdrawn, the brace F 1s free to swing open, Fig.3, so as to allow the opening-lever L M to swing the link-section O toits open position. This lever L M is ful-' crumed at N on theeye-section B, and by suitably pressing or pulling on lever-arm L thearm M, extending into contact with eye-section 0, will force saidsection to its opening position.

In Fig. 1 the device is shown as applied in case of shipwreck. Thelife-line O is passed through the primary eye A and around the mast P ofa vessel. The eye part or looped end Q of the line 0 is slipped intoengagement with the jointed eye B O, which latter eye isthen closed andlocked. The free end or portion of the line 0, extending to shore, willenable suitable connection with the vessel to be made. When all personshave passed from the vessel to the shore, the catch 1 can be withdrawnby a wire or cord R, extending to the shore, and a cord or wire S,connected to lever-arm L, will at the proper time actuate the lever L M,so that the eye B C will open to release the line 0, which can then behauled on shore, and thus preserved for future use. The releasingcord isshown guided'through a suitable eye T on the primary eye A.

Instead of applying the device as shown in Fig. 1, it is evident thatsaid eye can be applied at other places on the vessel, since, forexample, the eye B O can be placedin engagement with any suitable partof the rigging. To prevent the arms G from excessive swinging, a stop V,Fig. 2, is applied. Instead of the jointed eye consisting only of twosections, said eye may be formed of three sections B C G, jointed at DD, as seen in Fig. 5, the remaining construction being otherwise thesame as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Of course I do not limit myself to the use of my device in case ofshipwreck only, since my device can be applied on other occasions as,for example, in the case of fire orin handling or catting anchors 0rboats.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A safety-hook consisting of a primary eye, a link or eye connectedwith the primary eye and composed of jointed or pivoted sections, armssecured to one of the jointed sections and provided with a locking-bracefor securing the other jointed section, and a lever pivoted to one ofthe sections for forcing the latter apart when the locking-brace isreleased, substantially as described.

2. A safety-hook consisting of a primary eye, an eye or link engagingthe primary eye and comprising jointed or pivoted sections, a pair ofarms secured to one of the sections and provided. with a locking-bracepivoted to one of the arms,a locking-bolt for detachably securing theopposite end of the lockingbrace to the other arm for holding the twojointed or pivoted sections together, and a lever pivoted to one of thesections for forcing the latter apart when the locking-brace isreleased, substantially as described.

A safety-hook comprising an eye E, having' jointed or pivotedeye-sections I; and (,3, a pair of arms G, pivoted to one of theeyeseetions, a locking-brace 1 pivoted to one of the arms and having adetachable connection with the other arm for holding the twoeye-seetions together, means for releasing the loch. ing-braee, and alever pivoted to one of the eye-sections and engaging the othereye-section for forcing such sections apart when the locking-brace isreleased, substantially as described.

4. A safety-hook consisting; of aprimary eye A, an eye or link E,comprising jointed or pivoted eye-sections, a pair of arms G, pivoted toone of the eye-sections, a locking-brace F, pivoted to one of the arms,a locking-bolt for detachably connecting the opposite end of thelocking-brace, a lever L M, pivoted to one of the eye-sections andengaging the other eyeseetion for forcing such sections apart when thelocking-brace is released from the loekingbolt, and a line R, connectedwith the locking-bolt and with the lever, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EI'HVARI) ll. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

WM. (f.- IIAUFF, E. F. Resurnnnunnn.

